Today Is Arbor Day

STATE – Residents of New Jersey will celebrate Arbor Day 2010 on April 30. While some states chose to celebrate Arbor Day on a different date that coincides better with their growing season, National Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April by many states such as New Jersey.

The best way to celebrate Arbor Day is to plant trees. The Arbor Day Foundation’s Web site (www.arborday.org) offers many helpful tips to celebrate the tree-planters’ holiday, from how to plant a tree to selecting the right tree for the right place.

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To find out which trees grow best in New Jersey, consult the Arbor Day Foundation’s Hardiness Zone Map at www.arborday.org/treeinfo.

New Jersey has 155 cities and towns that were honored by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA community. Tree City USA recognizes communities that are committed to its trees. More than 135 million Americans live in a Tree City USA community. To see a list of Tree City USA communities, go to www.arborday.org/programs.

The first Arbor Day was celebrated in Nebraska on April 10, 1872, thanks to a resolution proposed by Nebraska City, Neb., resident J. Sterling Morton. Morton, a civic leader, agriculturist, and former newspaper editor, urged Nebraskans to “set aside one day to plant trees, both forest and fruit.” The tree-planting holiday was so popular that by 1920, more than 45 states and U.S. territories annually celebrated Arbor Day. Today, Arbor Day is observed in all 50 states and in countries around the world.

The state tree of New Jersey is the red oak, adopted in 1950. Its acorns were an important food supply for Native Americans. The tree is known for its brilliant scarlet color and leaves which turn in the fall.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation organization of nearly one million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs or ways to celebrate Arbor Day can be found at www.arborday.org.